Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 31

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

पंचात्मके पञ्चरतौ पञ्चविज्ञानसंज्ञके । शरीरे प्राणिनां जीवं वेत्तुभिच्छामि यादृशम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

paṃcātmake pañcaratau pañcavijñānasaṃjñake | śarīre prāṇināṃ jīvaṃ vettubhicchāmi yādṛśam || 31 ||

Translation

生きとし生けるもののこの身体は、五重の性をもち、五つの感官対象に喜び、また「五種の認識」と名づけられる。その身体においてジーヴァ（jīva）がいかなるものか、私は知りたい。

Word by Word

• पञ्च-आत्मके: in the fivefold (constituted of five)
• पञ्च-आत्मके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्च आत्मानः यस्य/यत्र); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पञ्च-रतौ: in that which is engaged in five (fivefold activity)
• पञ्च-रतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पञ्च-विज्ञान-संज्ञके: in that which is termed ‘five cognitions’
• पञ्च-विज्ञान-संज्ञके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शरीरे: in the body
• शरीरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• जीवम्: the jīva
• जीवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वेत्तुम्: to know
• वेत्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), क्रियार्थक (purpose)

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• यादृशम्: what kind (of)
• यादृशम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); जीवम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Jiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames a Moksha-Dharma inquiry: the jīva must be discerned as distinct from the five-element body and its sense-driven cognition, which is key to liberation-oriented knowledge.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By highlighting the body’s attraction to the five sense-objects, it implies the need to redirect attention from sensory pleasure toward the higher Self and, in bhakti-oriented reading, toward devotion to the Supreme as the means to transcend embodied identification.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it instead uses a Sāṅkhya-like analytical vocabulary (five elements, senses, cognition) to support discernment (viveka) in Moksha-Dharma.